# Is "A Severed Head" by Iris Murdoch a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch (Chatto & Windus, 1961) is identified by: London: Chatto & Windus, 1961 (Murdoch's fifth novel). UK Chatto & Windus (1961) precedes the US Viking Press edition (also 1961).

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- London: Chatto & Windus, 1961 (Murdoch's fifth novel)
- Brown cloth/boards with gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket designed by John Woodcock and with its printed price on the flap
- First edition, first impression
- Publisher imprint reads Chatto & Windus
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Iris Murdoch |
| Publisher | Chatto & Windus |
| Year | 1961 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | London: Chatto & Windus, 1961 (Murdoch's fifth novel) |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
London: Chatto & Windus, 1961 (Murdoch's fifth novel). Brown cloth/boards with gilt spine lettering; first-issue dust jacket designed by John Woodcock and with its printed price on the flap. First edition, first impression.

## Is this the true first?
UK Chatto & Windus (1961) precedes the US Viking Press edition (also 1961). The Viking issue is distinct (quarter white cloth over red boards, the printed price jacket by Bill English).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later impressions add printing statements. Confirm a first by the printed price jacket price (unclipped) and absence of any later impression line.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *A Severed Head* by Iris Murdoch a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/a-severed-head
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.